Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Where's all the short scale bass players?
- Thread starter descendent22
- Start date
I keep going back and forth between 34 and 32". I do love the feel of a 32 but I have been playing 34s for ever.my 2customs are standard scale but I recently put a deposit down on a 32 inch custom.
A couple years ago I bought a SS Jaguar with the intention of making a piccolo bass. That eneded up not doing much for me, but along the way I discovered that the short scale really suited me well. I've since bought a MIJ Mustang. These are my two main players now, but I do play all of my 34"ers on occasion. My next bass will be a SS Warmoth build, whenever I finally decide what exactly I want in it.
Reporting for booty:
Loves me some Woody, Allen. It's Epiphonic.
PS: I've since installed a SuperTone bridge. Highly recommended.
Loves me some Woody, Allen. It's Epiphonic.
PS: I've since installed a SuperTone bridge. Highly recommended.
Last edited:
My first short scale bass was an Epi Allen Woody Rumblekat bought about 6 months ago, mainly because of medical hand issues. I thought the shorter scale may help. Well I couldn't put it down.
So just a couple weeks ago I received a Shortbass by Scott Beckwith (Birdsong). Phenomenal neck, great playability, wonderful setup.
I have the Epi strung with DR flats and high action. That gives me a dark tone with nothing but thump and very little sustain. The Shortbass wears Chromes and is bright with low action and sustain for days.
So just a couple weeks ago I received a Shortbass by Scott Beckwith (Birdsong). Phenomenal neck, great playability, wonderful setup.
I have the Epi strung with DR flats and high action. That gives me a dark tone with nothing but thump and very little sustain. The Shortbass wears Chromes and is bright with low action and sustain for days.
I prefer short scales when I play 4 string basses and 34" for 5 strings. There is something about the sound of a shorty and the playability of it that just feels right for me. Maybe it's just because I'd been playing guitar for decades before moving to bass.
I have these two to choose from and both are 30.75" scale length.
I have these two to choose from and both are 30.75" scale length.
Just got my second SS bass, an Ibanez AFB200 Artcore. I also have an Epi Rumblekat. I have flats on the Rumblekat, and just ordered a set of LaBella flats for the Ibanez.
Another short scale dude here. I have full scale and extended scale basses as well but I keep coming back to short scales. Just so much easier to play good and IMHO you don't give up anything sound wise, they usually have all the bottom end and sometimes even more than my 34" and 35" basses.
So here's my current line up in order of playing preference...
2007 Gibson SG Supreme limited run Lava Burst
2010 Squier Bronco heavily modified (lipstick Humbucker, stingray preamp, coil tap...)
2012 Squier Jaguar SS modified (custom John East preamp installed)
2008 Danelectro Long horn SS
2007 Gibson SG Supreme limited run Blonde Tiger maple
2010 Squier Mustang SS
2011 Kala UBass Mahogany Hollowbody
Tops on my Short Scale wish list is an Alembic SC Brown bass.
So here's my current line up in order of playing preference...
2007 Gibson SG Supreme limited run Lava Burst
2010 Squier Bronco heavily modified (lipstick Humbucker, stingray preamp, coil tap...)
2012 Squier Jaguar SS modified (custom John East preamp installed)
2008 Danelectro Long horn SS
2007 Gibson SG Supreme limited run Blonde Tiger maple
2010 Squier Mustang SS
2011 Kala UBass Mahogany Hollowbody
Tops on my Short Scale wish list is an Alembic SC Brown bass.
Dang it! You just had to post that pic, didn't you.
You just induced a massive GAS flare up at the worst time of the year for me. I was hoping to hold off on an Alembic purchase until next Spring but now I don't know if I can make it that long, thanks!
BTW - if you have any leads on a clean used SC series I or II or the regular Brown Bass with PU switching and stereo output PM me.
hahah, sorry...... that happened to me too and hence the maple topped series I bass was bought in the last month from a seller in Australia. It's an 1980 model and refurbished by the last owner who is a luthier and is really an amazing sounding bass. I will keep my eyes open for you. Are you only interested if the bass is located in the USA or would Europe be an option?
Where are the short scale players? Over here hanging out in the Birdsong Club!http://www.talkbass.com/threads/birdsong-club-pt-2.615233/page-52#post-18043971
Birdsong Club Pt 2
As for my story. I feel in love with short scales but struggled to find a really nice one when I decided to invest in a higher quality instrument. I searched online and found out about Birdsong, and took a blind chance on one. I've never looked back since!
Birdsong Club Pt 2
As for my story. I feel in love with short scales but struggled to find a really nice one when I decided to invest in a higher quality instrument. I searched online and found out about Birdsong, and took a blind chance on one. I've never looked back since!
When I was younger I played a 1966 Gibson EBO. ( 30.5" scale )
Now I have a Fritz Bro. Custom. 31.5: scale. I found that the added inch gives this bass a much more defined tone.
Hope to have a 32" scale bass made soon. There is something about this scale length that I really like. Punch, and clarity.
Now I have a Fritz Bro. Custom. 31.5: scale. I found that the added inch gives this bass a much more defined tone.
Hope to have a 32" scale bass made soon. There is something about this scale length that I really like. Punch, and clarity.
I always thought Fender Jaguar basses looked cool. So picked up a Squier at the music store, not realizing it was short scale, to try out an amp. I ended up buying the bass instead. I played shorties for a while then got into medium scale basses. I eventually grew to like big thick necks, so I mostly play my P-Bass now. I do play my Mustang quite often, and when I do I always think I should sell my P.
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Made my very own Frankenbass, utilizing an SX 3/4 size PJ body and a Squier SS Jag neck. I've got Hipshot Ultralite tuners and EMG GZR's in it. It kicks some serious ass.
Dang, and you probably got a good deal on that one as well.
I will keep my eyes open for you. Are you only interested if the bass is located in the USA or would Europe be an option?
I have some reggae studio work coming up in the early summer and have it stuck in my head that a Brown bass would be the perfect tool, obviously a series bass even more so. I really like the way my Alembics record so I could use my Essence 5 string if I had to but I just keep thinking the warmth and roundness you get out of a SS bass would be perfect for the reggae work I want to do. Looks like you're into similar types of music so what's your take on the SC Brown bass as the right tool or the job? And yes, I'd source from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well as the US.
Here is mine:
And, here is a thread wherein I give a bit about it's story:
An Alembic Story
To be truthful, I'm not too discriminating about scale length and play either short or 34" depending on what I choose to do. In fact, all of my other basses are 34."
Another thing: I don't think scale length has much to do with hand size or finger length. Stanley Clarke has some of the biggest hands / longest fingers of any human being out there, and plays the short scale bass. OTOH, proper upright fingering techniques give access to much longer scales for folks with any hand size / finger length. Play what you like and like what you play!
And, here is a thread wherein I give a bit about it's story:
An Alembic Story
To be truthful, I'm not too discriminating about scale length and play either short or 34" depending on what I choose to do. In fact, all of my other basses are 34."
Another thing: I don't think scale length has much to do with hand size or finger length. Stanley Clarke has some of the biggest hands / longest fingers of any human being out there, and plays the short scale bass. OTOH, proper upright fingering techniques give access to much longer scales for folks with any hand size / finger length. Play what you like and like what you play!
I to be honest I haven't used my SC bass on a full reggae gig yet just the odd tracks at a gig but the bottom end is really warm and punchy and hifi so I think it would be a perfect bass for that genre.
Here is a link to one of my connections on the Alembic forum who uses an SC shorty in his reggae band
The Soul Sonics at the "Connexion live " in Toulouse.
Unfortunately the security settings on my browser doesn't allow me to view this on talk bass so hopefully you can see the link.
Here is a link to one of my connections on the Alembic forum who uses an SC shorty in his reggae band
The Soul Sonics at the "Connexion live " in Toulouse.
Unfortunately the security settings on my browser doesn't allow me to view this on talk bass so hopefully you can see the link.
